GED0083

COLLEGE PHYSICS 2

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

 LESSON #6

Capacitors, Electric
Storage, and
Dielectric

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

• Describe the nature of parallel-plate capacitors

• Calculate the amount of energy stored in a capacitor

• Analyze capacitors connected in a network

• Calculate the total capacitance of capacitors in a network

• Discuss dielectric materials

• Determine the effects of adding dielectrics in a capacitor.

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

 CAPACITORS

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

In its simplest form a capacitor
consists of two metal plates
separated by a non-conducting layer Capacitor, a device
called the dielectric. The dielectric for storing an
may be air, plastic, waxed paper, or
electrical charge,
another substance such as the
mineral mica. sometimes called a
condenser.

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

The electrical size of a capacitor is
its capacitance, that is the ratio of
the amount of charge Q on either
conductor to the potential
difference V between the
conductors, or simply Where

C = Capacitance, Farad (F)

q = charge, Coulomb (C)
V = potential difference, Volts (V)

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

Dielectrics do not break down (allowing
electric charge to flow) as readily as air, so
higher voltage can be applied without
charge passing across the gap.
Dielectrics are
Dielectrics allows the plates to be placed materials used as
closer together without touching, thus insulating sheet in
allowing an increased capacitance because most capacitors.
d is less.

It is found experimentally that if the

dielectric fills the space between the 2
conductors, it increases the capacitance by
a factor K, known as dielectric constant.

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

An air-filled capacitor consisting of 2 parallel plates separated by a
distance of d is connected to a battery of voltage V & acquires a charge
Q. While it is still connected to the battery, a slab of dielectric material
with K=3 is inserted between the plates of the capacitor. Will Q
increase, decrease, or stay the same?

Since capacitor remains connected to the battery, V is constant and equal to the battery voltage V.
The capacitance (C) increases when the dielectric material is inserted because K has increased.
From Q = CV, If V is constant but C increases, then Q must INCREASE as well.
As the dielectric is inserted, more charge will be pulled from the battery and deposited onto the plates
of the capacitor as its capacitance increases.

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

where A is the area of the plates,
d is the distance between them
εo is the permittivity of free space
εo = 8.85x10-12 F/m
K is the relative permittivity of the dielectric between the two plates.
For free space, K=1
for air, K = 1.0006
a typical value for glass is K = 6
for water, K = 80.

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

The energy stored by a
capacitor corresponds to the
work performed in creating
opposite charges on the two
plates at the applied voltage.
The amount of charge that can
be stored depends on the area
of the plates, the spacing
between them, the dielectric
material in the space, and the
applied voltage.

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

A capacitor has a charge of 5
x 10-4C when the potential
difference across its plates is
300V. Find its capacitance.

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

A parallel plate capacitor has plates 5 cm dimension and 0.1mm apart.
Find its capacitance
a. in air
b. with mica of K=6 between the plates.
𝟓 𝒄𝒎
(𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝒄𝒎)𝟐
C= 1.0006(8.85x10-12 F/m) 𝟎.𝟏𝒎𝒎 = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟑𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟎 𝑭
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝒎

𝟓 𝒄𝒎
(𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝒄𝒎)𝟐
C = 6(8.85x10-12 F/m) 𝟎.𝟏𝒎𝒎 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟕𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟗 𝑭
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝒎

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

How much energy is stored in a 50pF capacitor when it is
charged to a potential difference of 200V?

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

 CAPACITORS IN COMBINATION

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

The idea of connecting
capacitors together in series
or parallel is so that both the
capacitance and voltage can
be adjusted. As charging up a
capacitor can lead to
excessive temperature rises,
and thus damage, it is
desirable to have as large a
voltage rating as possible so
that the maximum amount of
energy can be stored.

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

 For capacitors in Series: For capacitors in Parallel:

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

Find the equivalent capacitance of a 12μF capacitor and 30μF capacitor that are
connected in (a) series (b) parallel. Find the charge and the potential difference
across each capacitor. The combination is connected to a power source of 40V.

Find:
a) CT, qT, q1, q2, V1, V2 in series connection
b) CT, qT, q1, q2, V1, V2 in parallel connection

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

 B. IN PARALLEL
A. IN SERIES

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

In the given combination of capacitors, find the equivalent capacitance,
the charge on each capacitor and the potential difference across on
each. The capacitance of each capacitor is 4μF and the combination is
connected to a power source of 60V.

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

In the given combination of
capacitors, find the
equivalent capacitance, the
charge on each capacitor
and the potential difference
across on each. The
capacitance of each
capacitor is 4μF and the
combination is connected
to a power source of 60V.

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

In the given combination of
capacitors, find the equivalent
capacitance, the charge on each
capacitor and the potential
difference across on each. The
capacitance of each capacitor is
4μF and the combination is
connected to a power source of
60V.

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

In the given combination of
capacitors, find the equivalent
capacitance, the charge on each
capacitor and the potential
difference across on each. The
capacitance of each capacitor is
4μF and the combination is
connected to a power source of
60V.

Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

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Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric

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Capacitors, Electric Storage, and Dielectric